Vehicle washing pit



J. P. NICHOLSON VEHICLE WASHING' PIT May 15,-1928. Re. 16,964

onginl Filed July 24, 192e l ,l 2 l i i Maya-wry Reissued May 15, 192.8. I

J ACOB'l l. NICHOLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILl'aIIb'l'OIS.`

VEHICLE WASHING PIT. i

Original No. 1,633,280, dated .Tune 21, 1927, Serial No. 124,598, led July 24, 1926. Application for reissue filed March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,489.

'l`he present ,invent-.ion relates more particularly to a pit constructed for the etilcicnt washing of the body and chassisI ot' anv automobile.

More `specitically. the pit construction of the present invention comprises spaced parallel oppositely disposed side walls, the inner surface ot' each wall projecting below the normal floor level and terminating in the ioor of the'pit. interposed between said walls are spacedA runways provided with curbs and extending in the same parallel drection as the side walls. The automobile washing devices are preferably mounted on the side wall, the latter also functioning as a splash wall. The inside surfaces ot the side walls ma be provided with inwardly ent-away portions tnnctioningto receive and partially conceal tiood lights.

Among the advantages'ot the present invention may be set forth the ease` with which the chassis of an automobile may be cleaned by bringing said chassis on substantially the direct line of vision of the workmen.

This accomplished by dropping the Hoor of the pica considerable distance below the normal licor level. ways permit. the carto be moved and rolled backward and forward over the pit during the cleaning operation without the necessity of auxiliary guidance or steering.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, thel section being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional yiew taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Referring .more in detail tothe drawings,

. 1 designates two spaced opposit-ely disposed parallel side walls which project above the normal level 2 of the floor immediately adjacent thereto. The inside surfaces ofthe walls 1 project below the normal tioor level 2. as shown at 3, terminating in the tloor ot the pit, shown at 4. The floor of the pit has been dropped a considerable distance below the normal floor level. for instance, between sixteen and twenty-four inches. lThe pit fioor preferably slopesdownwurdly toward the center from each side wall, as shown at 5, for'the purpose of directing the sewage toward an outlet drain, as will be hereinafter explained. l

Interposed between the side walls 1 and extendingr in the same parallel direction relative to the side walls are ay'pair of spaced' runways or piers 6, provided on their upper The curbs on the runsurface with outwardly projecting curbs 7,

ei'ablyin substantially the same horizontal plane as the normal iioor level 2, 1n order that the. car to be cleaned may be moved trom the floor on to the runways and rolled from the runway to the floor with a minimum ot' effort.

As a \t'eature of the invention, the base of each runway 6 is provided with apertures 8. 8, functioning as outlets, to permit the cleaning materials, dirt, grease-and the like, to flow inwardly along the sloping floor 5 of the pit and to be collected in the catchbasin t) and directed tosewage through the outlet drain l0.

The inside surfaces of each wall may b e provided with the inwardly cut-away portions 1l, functioning as sockets for receiving and partially concealing tlood lights.

It will be apparentthat the pit construction vof the present invention has been care.- l'ully designed to efliciently clean and wash all. outside parts ot' an automobile, incliniing the. chassis. .By dropping the floor of the pit, the chassis is brought on substantially a direct line of vision with the workmen.` By atl'ording facilities for a flood light system, the night .work can -be performed with the same cticiency as-can be obtainedV with natural light.

The pit is designed to accommodate two to ten workmen, according to the number of cleaning mechanisms, and permits the cars to be easily moved backward and forward over the pit without the necessity of a per` son vdriving or guiding the car.

In use and operation, the pit construction of the. present invention'functions very etiiciently, permitting economy in labor and excellent results.

i. 'lhe upper surface of each pier 6 is pref# The entire construction is ladapted to be constructed of concrete; but. it is understood' that other materials may be employed.

each runway,'the inside surface of each wall projecting ybelow the normal tloor level and terminating in the pit floor, and a drainv communicating with the lpit floor.

. 2. A vehicle washing pit comprising spaced opposite wallsy projecting above the normal floor level, spaced vehicle runways parallel with and interposed between said walls, the upper surfaces of therunways lying in substantially the same plane as thedrain.

3. A vehicle washing pit comprising spacedo posite walls projecting above the normal oor level, spaced vehicle runways parallel with and interposed between said walls, the upper surfaces of the runwa s lying in substantially the same plane as t e normal level of the floor immediately ad' jacent thereto, a curb on the upper edge of each'runway, the inside surface of each wall projecting below the normal door level and normal terminating in the it floor, said side walls being provided wit spaced inwardly cutaway portions adapted to receive and partially conceal lights.

4. A vehicle Washing pit comprising spaced o posite walls projecting above the oor level, spaced vehicle runways parallel with and interposed between said walls, the upper surfaces of the runways lying in substantially the same plane as the normal level of the floor immediately adjacent thereto, a curb onV the upper edge of each runway, the inside surface of each wall projecting below the normal oor level and terminating inthe pit floor, and a drain communicating with the pit floor, each run'- way being spaced from an adjacent -side wall a suicient distance to permit operators to freely move about while standing on the pit floor.

'and interposed between said walls, each runway being spaced a considerable .distance from its adjacent wall, the upper surfaces of said runways lying in substantially the same 'plane as the normal level ofthe floor immediately adjacent thereto, a curb on the luppersurface of each runway, walls exterior ot' the runways whose inside surfaces project below the normal loor level and terminate in a Hoor to form a pit.

6. A vehicle washing-pit comprising in combination spaced opposite walls rojecting below the normal floor level an terminating in a iloor to form a pit, a drain com- Y municating with said floor, spaced vehicle runways substantiallyparallel with and interposed between said walls, the upper surfaces of the runways lying in substantially the same plane as the normal level of thel floor immediately adjacent thereto, av curb on the upper edge of each runway, and walls projecting above the normal floor level outside of and spaced from 'said runways', each runway being spaced from an adjacent side wall a suliicient distance to permit operators to freely move about while standing on kthe pit floor.

7. A jvehicle washing pit comprising in combination spaced opposite walls projecting below the normal floor level and terminating in a floor to form a pit, a drain communicating -with said ioor, spaced vehicle runways substantially parallel with and interposed between said walls, the upper surfaces of the runways lying in substantially the same plane as the normal level of the floor immediately adjacent thereto, a curb on the upper edge of each runway, each runway being spaced from an adjacent side wall a sufficient distance to permit operators to freely move about while standing` on the pit oor. v

JACOB P. NICHOLSON. f 

